Buenaventura Birds – Part Two

Jocotoco Foundation’s Buenaventura Reserve hosts at least 315 species of birds. Here are a few key species:

Buenaventura Reserve; Ecuador, Prov. El Oro

El Oro Parakeet is the flagship species for Buenaventura reserve. The bird was first discovered there in the 1980’s. The Jocotoco Conservation Foundation took action to preserve the habitat of the species, creating the reserve in 1989.

El Oro Parakeet _F5A5888

El Oro Parakeet

Only several hundred of these Ecuadorian endemic parakeets survive. The Jocotoco Foundation works to protect them both on an off the reserve.

El Oro Parakeet at nest box _F5A4253

El Oro Parakeet

These parakeets have a fascinating communal breeding system. Only one pair breeds in a nest, but several other parakeets, mostly related to the pair, use the nest cavity/box and help feed the young. There may be as many as eight helpers. Consequently, one female can lay eight eggs.


Long-wattled Umbrellabird _A5E4797

Long-wattled Umbrellabird

Another prominent species at the reserve, in the eyes of birders, is the Long-wattled Umbrellabird. The male lengthens and fans out this incredible appendage during his courtship display. A lek (communal display ground) of these birds is located thirty minutes by foot from the reserve’s Umbrellabird Lodge.

Gray-backed Hawk  _F5A7007

Gray-backed Hawk

The endangered Gray-backed Hawk has one of its remaining strongholds in and around Buenaventura Reserve.

Royal Flycatcher male _F5A7781

Pacific Royal Flycatcher male

The Pacific Royal Flycatcher has a bizarre crest that fans out to reveal red, blue, and black. Few ornithologists have observed how the bird uses this crest in the wild. When captured and held in the hand the bird opens its yellow-lined mouth and spreads the crest.

Pacific Royal Flycatcher _F5A8685

Pacific Royal Flycatcher female at nest

The female’s crest is orange, blue, and black.

Pacific Royal Flycatcher at nest _F5A8098

Pacific Royal Flycatcher female at nest

The nest, here under construction, consists of fibers woven into a long, hanging mass. This nest is being built next to a road, but a more typical site would be over a stream.

Pacific Royal Flycatcher _F5A8561

Pacific Royal Flycatcher female constructing nest

The female builds the nest, while the male watches.

Pacific Royal Flycatcher _F5A8662

Pacific Royal Flycatcher female with nest material

The female bringing a fiber to the nest. Nest building is a lengthy process. We had to leave the reserve before the nest was complete.

 

This entry was posted in Uncategorized and tagged , , , , , , , , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

Leave a Reply